Cartridge with combined effects projectile

ABSTRACT

A cartridge comprising a bullet, the bullet providing a radially expanding array of bullet fragments upon entering a target and also providing an increase in effective surface area of the bullet within the target by structural features that facilitate tumbling or mushrooming in the target. In an embodiment a pair of axial core members are aligned in a bullet jacket with the forward core member being segmented with separation junctures formed by engaged faces of adjacent segments. Impact causing fracturing of the segments from a base portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/904,731, filed Jun. 18, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/967,169, filed Apr. 30, 2018 which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/659,952, filed Apr. 19,2018 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/492,058, filed Apr. 28,2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Maximum stopping power is desirable in small arms ammunition utilizedfor hunting, personal protection, and law enforcement. Stopping powercorrelates to energy transfer from the bullet to the fluidic targetwhich is associated with maximizes damage to the target. Conventionalhandgun ammunition, for personal protection and law enforcement mayoften be designed to “upset” or “mushroom” upon impact therebypresenting an enhanced surface area to the fluidic target and therebythe projectile will often dissipate its entire energy in the targetwhile generating a significant wound cavity. Other ammunition may relyupon the bullet tumbling upon entering the target to cause maximumdamage or injury and that dissipates the bullets energy and generates asignificant wound cavity. Bullets that remain intact and do not tumblein a target often pass through the target reducing damage or injury tothe target and may create a hazard to personnel behind the intendedtarget. Other known ammunition have bullets that fragment, suchfragmentation in small arms has been disfavored as smaller fragments maybe inconsistent in the damage they inflict upon targets and often have areduced wound cavities. Efforts have been made to prevent fragmentationof mushrooming bullets as such was deemed disadvantageous. One advantageto fragmenting projectiles is that fragments that disperse from thedirect bullet path provide a greater chance of hitting a vital componentin a soft fluidic target that is displaced from the direct bullet path.

Any improvement to the stopping power of small arms ammunition would bewelcome by consumers and law enforcement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In embodiments herein a bullet of a cartridge is provided withcontrolled fragmentation and dispersion of the fragmentation upon targetentry as well as providing a bullet portion that comprises a substantialportion of the original bullet and that has a controlled mushroomingand/or tumbling effect. In embodiments, a jacketed bullet has a pair ofaxially arranged cores, a forward core and a rearward core, within thejacket, the rearward core having a cylindrical outer surface engagingthe jacket. The forward core having an ogival exterior forward surfacethat may follow an interior wall surface of the jacket and a rearwardcylindrical surface. The forward ogival portion may have a centralrecess commonly referred to as a hollow point. The forward core havingcircumferentially spaced core segments positioned about an axis of thebullet, the core segments being separated from one another in the finalbullet or during the bullet forming so as to form parting or separationjunctures of the core segments from one another. The separationjunctures, which may be planar or non-planar shaped separationjunctures, with opposing faces of adjacent core segments confronting andengaging each other. Each separation juncture extending radially outwardfrom the radius. The core segments formed to separate upon impact with atarget radially outward in a dispersed star shaped pattern. The jackethaving a forward portion with axially extending tear guides configuredas creases, skives, folds or the like, to facilitate pedaling of thejacket upon target entry. The tear guides may be arranged to correspondto the core segments. The core segments may be unitary with anon-segmented core portion whereby when the segments separate, there isa tearing at bases of the core segments

In an embodiment, a bullet core has a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced segments separated from one another. In embodiments, the segmentshave a separation defined by a gap, the gap extending axially at least30% of the axial length of the bullet. In embodiments, the gap extendingat least 20% of the axial length of the bullet. The segments unitary andhomogeneous with a non-segmented portion of the core rearward of theplurality of circumferentially spaced segments. The segments configuredto separate from the non-segmented portion of the core upon impact. Inembodiments, the segments are positioned around a pillar portionextending from the non-segmented portion. Whereby when the segmentsseparate, axially extending cut-out regions are defined on the forwardexterior surface of the bullet facilitating tumbling of the bullet inthe target. The central pillar portion may remain intact with thenon-segmented portion in the target, shifting the center of gravityrearward, facilitating tumbling of the non-segmented portion. Theconcave cutouts also destabilize the non-segmented portion with thepillar portion facilitating tumbling.

A feature and advantage of embodiments is that the attributes ofconventional mushrooming bullet are provided as well as the advantagesof a fragmenting bullet. Moreover, the fragmentation occurs in apredefined pattern of a radially expanding array, maximizing stoppingpotential of the bullet.

A feature and advantage of embodiments is that the cartridge and bulletas shown may be manufactured with conventional manufacturing techniquesand tools, thereby providing an enhanced round with minimal or noadditional manufacturing expense.

A feature and advantage of embodiments is a projectile that uponmushrooming, the petals release minor projectile components radiallyoutward from the primary projectile track and the mushroomed projectilecomponent continues to track substantially along the primary projectiletrack. In embodiments the minor projectile components constitute lessthan 50% of the original mass of the projectile

A feature and advantage of embodiments is a projectile that provides atumbling effect upon hitting a target but also provides an earlypre-tumble fragmentation, the fragmentation being provided in apredefined radially expanding array.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional of a handgun cartridge according toembodiments.

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a bullet according to embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the bullet of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is partial sectional view of a bullet according to embodimentsherein.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken at line 5-5 of FIG. 4

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken at line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken at line 7-7 of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 8A-8C are illustrations of the bullet components of the bullet ofFIG. 4 after entry into a soft target.

FIG. 9A is photo image of bullet component paths in a gel block softtarget of embodiments.

FIG. 9B is a drawing illustrating the cone shaped dispersion pattern ofcombined terminal effects projectile embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment with core segments.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of a projectile according to anembodiment.

FIG. 11B is a front top perspective view of the projectile of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 11C is a top plan view of the projectile of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 11D is a bottom perspective view of the projectile of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 11E is a cross-sectional view of the projectile of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12A is a top perspective illustration of the terminal effects ofthe components of the bullet of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12B is a bottom perspective illustration of the terminal effects ofthe components of the bullet of FIG. 11A.

FIG. 13A is a side plan view of another embodiment of a projectile.

FIG. 13B is a front top perspective view of the projectile of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 13C is a front top perspective view of the projectile of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 13D is a top plan view of the projectile of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a projectile.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a handgun cartridge 20 with a bullet 22 isdepicted. The cartridge 20 has a conventional casing 26 with a casinghead 28 having a primer 30. The casing 26 defining an interior 32 withpropellant 34 therein and a mouth 36 with the bullet 22 therein. Thebullet 22 has a cannelure 40 inset in a jacket 42 of the bullet 22. Thecannelure 40 may be functional to secure a rearward core (not shown inthis view) of the bullet 22 to the jacket 42 upon entering a target andmay also be utilized to limit pedaling of the jacket 42. Folds, creases,or skives 44 extend axially on the jacket 42 and may accommodate theconverging configuration of the jacket 42 toward the tip 45 of thebullet 22 in that jackets are typically tubular in shape prior toforming into the converging shape. As described further below, thefolds, creases, or skives 44 may function as pedal forming or tearingguides.

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 illustrate a bullet 46 without a cannelure, alsosuitable for use in the cartridge 20 of FIG. 1. The bullet 46 has aforward core member 52 and rearward core member 54 meeting at a juncture55 and in axial alignment positioned inside the jacket 48. The jacket 48includes a rearward circular wall 58 unitary with a tubular wall 60 andan inside wall surface 56. The jacket 48 secures the core members 52,54, therein with engagement of the core members 52, 54, with the insidewall surface 56 of the jacket 48.

At a forward end 61 of the projectile or bullet 46, a cavity configuredas a central recess 64 is defined by the forward core 52, providing whatis known as a hollow point bullet. In embodiments, the forward core 52has a plurality of core segments 70, numbering 6 in the exemplaryillustration. The core segments 70 may, of course, be of otherquantities and may be formed generally as described in U.S. Pat. No.6,805,057, which is herein incorporated by reference for all purposesand owned by the owner of the instant application. In embodiments, thecentral recess may have material, such as elastomeric material, or a tiptherein.

A punch may separate the segments 70, defining faces of each segment 70,and the jacket 48 and cores 52, 54, may be swaged together in suitableforms. Each core segment has an outer face 71 and a pair of internalfaces 72, 74, that engage respective apposing faces of adjacent segments70. The adjacent faces 72, 74, define separation junctures 78 that mayextend to or are proximate to a rear face 80 of the forward core member52.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the separation junctures 78 may extend fromthe cavity 64 rearward to the rear face 80 near the axial center andthen be more displaced from the rear face 80 towards the outercircumferential surface of the forward core member 52 as indicated bythe dashed line indicating the rearward margins 81 of the separationjunctures 78 in the illustrated embodiment.

FIGS. 5-7 show cross-sections of the bullet 46 of FIG. 4 along lines5-5, 6-6 and 7-7, respectively. The cross-section of FIG. 5 is rearwardof the rear face 80 of forward core member 52 and therefore shows therearward core member 54. The cross-section of FIG. 6 is just forward ofthe rear face 80 and just shows the forward core member 52. As can beseen, the cross-section of FIG. 6 crosses the angled rearward margins 81of the separation junctures 78 such that the separation juncture 78 donot extend to the outer circumferential surface of the forward coremember 52. The cross-section of FIG. 7 is forward of the rear face 80and the angled rearward margins 81 of the separation junctures 78 andthus shows just the forward core member 52 with the separation juncture78 extending to the outer circumferential surface of the forward coremember 52,

In certain embodiments, the cavity 64 may not extend rearward fully tothe rear face 80, but may be a shallower cavity. In certain embodiments,the cavity 64 may be filled, such as with elastomeric material asdescribed in U.S. Patent Publication US 2005/0126422, said applicationincorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

The jacket 48 includes skives, creases, or folds 44 that may be alignedwith the separation junctures 78, as best shown in FIG. 3, and asdescribed in the '057 patent.

Upon the projectile 46 of FIGS. 2-7 striking a soft target, such as thegel block as illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B, hydraulic forces in thecavity 64 force the core segments 70 and jacket 48 radially outward andthe bullet 46 begins to expand. The separation junctures 78 extendsufficiently rearward that the outward hydraulic forces cause separatingand/or tearing of the core segments 70 along the separation juncturepaths 78 and at the rear face 80, resulting in complete separation ofthe segments 70 from one another and the rearward core member 54. Theseparating and expansion further causes pedaling of the jacket 48 afterthe jacket 48 tears or opens along the creases, folds, or skives 44.FIGS. 8A-9B illustrate petals 84 formed upon impact and expansion of thebullet 46 and expansion of the rearward core member 54 maintained withinthe rearward tubular was 60 of the jacket 48.

In embodiments, a punch that forms the core segments in the forward coremay extend into the rear core, particularly at the central portion ofthe rear core as shown in FIG. 8A. The core cuts by said punch are notsufficient to allow fragmentation of the rear core.

In that the core segments 70 are not attached to each other or to therearward core member 52, the outward hydraulic force of the soft targetin the cavity 64 causes the segments 70 to release and launch asfragments 82 radially outward in a pattern corresponding to thearrangement in the jacket 48. FIGS. 8A-9B illustrate the expansion andfragmentation of the bullet 46. In embodiments, the size of the coresegments 70 is substantially maintained as they are released andlaunched as fragments 82. The forward inertial momentum of the segments70 combined with the outward release and launching provides a pathangled from the main projectile path in the range of 20 degrees to 40degrees, in embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 10, another embodiment of a jacketed bullet 160 isillustrated. The bullet has a jacket 162 that surrounds a forward coreportion 165 and a rear core portion 176. The forward core portion 165includes forward segments 168 that are circumferentially spaced aboutthe axis α. The segments 168 may vary in number. In an embodiment, asshown in FIG. 14, the bullet 160 may include six segments 168. Asillustrated, the segments 168 may have separation juncture or planesthat separate and define the segments 168 and a separation juncture 172between the segments 168 of the forward core portion 165 from the rearcore portion 176, such that, at impact and expansion of the bullet 160,the segments 168 separate and fragment without tearing of the coreportions. The juncture 172 between the forward segments 168 and the rearcore portion 176 is shown as conically shaped, but may of course haveother shapes such as frustoconical or spherical. A cannelure 178 may actas a hinge with respect to jacket 148 separation. In some embodiments,the jacket 148 can include skives 144 and can separate and fragment withthe segments 168. In embodiments, the forward and rear core portions maybe lead.

The cores 52, 54, and jacket 48 may be formed of conventional materials,including but not limited to, copper and copper alloys for the jacket48, and lead, copper and alloys thereof for the core members.

Referring to FIGS. 11A-14, an embodiment is a unitary bullet 110 orprojectile according to embodiments is illustrated, the bullet 110 has aplurality of circumferentially spaced segments 114 separated from oneanother. In embodiments, the segments 114 are uniformly spaced. Inembodiments, the segments 114 have a separation defined by cuts or gaps118 between the segments 114 and side walls 121 of the pillar portion132, the gaps 118 having a floor 119 and an axial length 122 extendingaxially at least 30% of the axial length 124 of the bullet 110. Inembodiments, the gap 118 extending at least 20% of the axial length 124of the bullet 110. In embodiments, the gap 118 extending at least 50% ofthe axial length 124 of the bullet 110. In embodiments, the gap 118extending at least 60% of the axial length 124 of the bullet 110.

The gaps 118 may be a few thousandths of an inch thick to a few hundredthousandths of an inch thick. The segments 114 are unitary andhomogeneous with a non-segmented portion 128 of the bullet 110. Suchnon-segmented portion 128 may be rearward of the plurality ofcircumferentially spaced segments 114 and be configured as a base 128with a bottom 123.

The segments 114 are configured to separate from the non-segmentedportion or base 128 of the bullet 110 upon impact. In embodiments, thesegments 114 are positioned around a pillar portion 132 extending fromthe base 128, the gaps 118 being defined between the segments 114 andthe pillar portion 132.

When the bullet 110 enters a soft target, such as a gel block, hydraulicfluid enters the gaps 118 and forces the segments 114 outwardly. Theconnection portions of the segments 114 to the base proximate the floors119 of the gaps 118 are not flexible nor strong enough to resistfracturing or snapping under the hydraulic forces of the fluid. Underpressure from the hydraulic forces, the segments 114 fracture apart fromthe base 128 and are launched radially outward, as illustrated in FIGS.12A-12B.

The fracturing of the segments 114 provide axially extending cut-outregions 140 defined on the forward exterior surface of the projectile110, presenting a profile that facilitates tumbling of the base 128 andpillar portion 132 of the projectile 110 in the target, as shown inFIGS. 12A and 12B. After the segments 114 break away from the base 128,the center of gravity of the remaining base/pillar portion is shiftedrearward in the base 128, also promoting tumbling.

In other embodiments, the segments 114 may be adjacent to one another.The cuts or gaps 118 extend, in the embodiments of FIGS. 11A-14, atleast 30% of the axial length 124 of the bullet 110. In embodiments, thegaps 118 extending at least 20% of the axial length of the bullet 110.In embodiments, the gap extending at least 50% of the axial length ofthe bullet. In embodiments, the gap extending at least 60% of the axiallength of the bullet.

FIGS. 13A-14 illustrate further embodiments of unitary bullets that mayfragment as shown in FIGS. 12A-12B. Whereas FIG. 11A-11E may havearcuate cuts or gaps 118, the embodiment of FIG. 14 has V-shaped cuts orgaps 118, when viewed from the forward end in an axial direction. FIGS.13A-13D includes bridge or webbing 142 that extend between a side wall121 of the pillar portion 132 and the segments 114. The bridge orwebbing 142 may extend the axial length 122 of the gaps 118, from thefloors 119 of the gaps 118 to the forward end of the segments 114. Inembodiments, the bridge or webbing 142 may extend a portion of the axiallengths 122. In some embodiments, the bridge or rib portion 142comprises two or more axially separated bridges or webbing aligned alongthe axial length 122 in a gap 118, connecting the pillar portion 132 andthe segment 114. Depending on the bullet material, the bridge or webbing142 may be useful for providing bullet integrity when passing throughmaterials such as drywall, clothing, glass, and other materials.

The projectiles of FIGS. 11A-14 may be made of conventional materialsincluding metals, polymers, metal polymer composites and othermaterials. In embodiments, the projectile 110 may comprise a first metalselected from the group consisting of copper, tungsten, zirconium,steel, titanium, hafnium, niobium, tantalum, iron, tin, aluminum, zinc,tungsten carbide, ferro-tungsten, bismuth, stainless steel, carballoy,tantalum, molybdenum, combinations thereof, and alloys thereof; and abinder selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic, athermosetting polymer, polyurethane, polyolefin, polyester, polyvinylalcohol, poly(C2-C5-alkylene glycol), hydroxyalkylcellulose,polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymerionomer, polyetherester elastomer, polydicyclopentadiene,polydimethylsiloxane, polyamide, polycarbonite, a phenol formaldehydepolymer, a polymethylmethacrylate polymer, an amorphous polymer, a lowcrystallinity polymers, polycarbonate, a thermoplastic elastomer,phenolics, epoxies, dialylphthalates, acrylics, polystyrenes,polyethylene, and combinations thereof. The first metal can comprise anamount of from 50 percent by weight to 99.5 percent by weight, based onthe total weight of the composition. See U.S. Patent Publication US2016/231093, which is herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.

In embodiments, the bullets 110 may be formed by injection molding, suchthat the bullet 110 is formed as a unitary piece with formed gaps 118and segments 114, as shown in FIG. 11E.

Suitable methods for manufacturing the multi-core bullets describedherein include: Inserting a jacket preform into a die. Dropping a firstlead ball into the jacket preform and pressing the lead ball into thejacket to form the rearward core member 54. A multistage press issuitable to using in the pressing steps. The press is configured toimpart a desired shape to the forward end of the rearward core member 54for the desired fit for juncture 55. A second lead ball is dropped ontothe formed rearward core pressed down onto the rearward core in thejacket, deforming the second ball to conform to the jacket and theforward surface of the rearward core. The combined reward core member,forward core member and jacket are then inserted forward core componentend first into a skiving die to form the segments. Appropriate shapedpunches and/or blades are used to form the planer separations toseparate the segments as desired. The combined reward core member,forward core member and jacket are then moved to a finishing die to beswaged to obtain the final bullet shape. Other and additional steps may,of course, be utilized.

The following references are hereby incorporated by reference hereinexcept for express definitions and patent claims contained therein: U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0283314; U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2006/0027129; U.S. Pat. No. 9,863,746; U.S. Pat. No.5,399,187; U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,808; U.S. Pat. No. 7,503,260; and U.S.Pat. No. 6,048,379. Any incorporation by reference of documents above islimited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary tothe explicit disclosure herein.

Each of the figures and methods disclosed herein can be used separately,or in conjunction with other features and methods, to provide improveddevices and methods for making and using the same. Therefore, thespecific combinations of features and methods disclosed herein may notbe necessary to practice the disclosure in its broadest sense and areinstead disclosed merely to particularly describe representativeembodiments.

Various modifications to the embodiments may be apparent to one of skillin the art upon reading this disclosure. For example, persons ofordinary skill in the relevant art will recognize that the variousfeatures described for the different embodiments can be suitablycombined, un-combined, and re-combined with other features, alone, or indifferent combinations. Likewise, the various features described aboveshould all be regarded as example embodiments, rather than limitationsto the scope or spirit of the disclosure.

Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize thatvarious embodiments can comprise fewer features than illustrated in anyindividual embodiment described above. The embodiments described hereinare not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which thevarious features may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are notmutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the claims cancomprise a combination of different individual features selected fromdifferent individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinaryskill in the art.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoingembodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novelcombination, of the features disclosed in this specification (includingany incorporated by reference references, any accompanying claims,abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination,of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. The above referencesin all sections of this application are herein incorporated byreferences in their entirety for all purposes.

Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein,it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose could be substitutedfor the specific examples shown. This application is intended to coveradaptations or variations of the present subject matter. Therefore, itis intended that the invention be defined by the attached claims andtheir legal equivalents, as well as the following illustrative aspects.The above described aspects embodiments of the invention are merelydescriptive of its principles and are not to be considered limiting.Further modifications of the invention herein disclosed will occur tothose skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications aredeemed to be within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A handgun cartridge comprising a cartridge casingwith a mouth and an interior, propellant in the interior of thecartridge casing, and a bullet secured in the mouth of the cartridgecasing, the cartridge and bullet have a central axis, the bullet havingan overall length and a maximum diameter, the ratio of the overalllength to the maximum diameter is equal to or less than about 2:1, thebullet comprising: a jacket member comprising a rearward wall having agenerally circular shape and a circumferential wall extending forwardlyfrom the rearward wall, the circumferential wall having a forwardmargin; a rearward core member disposed inside the jacket, the rearwardcore member having a cylindrical exterior surface engaging an insidesurface of the circumferential wall, a forward facing surface, and arearward facing surface, the rearward facing surface of the rearwardcore member being seated against a forward facing surface of therearward wall of the jacket; a forward core member disposed inside thejacket forward of the rearward core member; the forward core membercomprising a plurality of core segments extending axially forwardly froma base portion of the forward core member, the plurality of segmentsarranged circularly around the central bullet axis and defining a bullettip with an axially extending recess at said tip, adjacent pairs offorward core segments having segment faces engaged with each otherdefining a separation juncture, whereby when the bullet strikes a targetthe segments are separable from one another at said separation juncturesand are separable from the base portion and dispersible radiallyoutwardly in an array; wherein the jacket has a plurality of axiallyextending tear guides extending rearwardly from the forward margin,whereby when the bullet strikes a target the jacket may petal outwardly.2. The handgun cartridge of claim 1, wherein the plurality of coresegments numbers from 3 to
 8. 3. The handgun cartridge of claim 1wherein the bullet has means for retaining the rearward core member toremain with the jacket after the bullet strikes a target.
 4. The handguncartridge of claim 3 wherein the means for retaining comprises at leastone of a cannelure extending around the rearward core and a bonding ofthe rearward core to the jacket.
 5. The handgun cartridge of claim 1,wherein the axially extending recess at the bullet tip has a depth, andwherein the separation planes have an axial length, and the axial lengthof the separation planes is greater than the depth of the axiallyextending recess.
 6. The handgun cartridge of any one of claim 1,wherein each separation juncture extends axially entirely through theforward core member along the axis.
 7. The handgun cartridge of claim 6wherein the forward core member has an exterior circumferential surfaceand wherein each separation juncture extends entirely the axial lengthof the forward core member at the central axis and does not extend theentire length of the forward core member at the outer circumferentialsurface.
 8. The handgun cartridge of claim 1, wherein one the forwardcore member and rearward core member comprises a material selected fromthe group consisting of: steel, lead, copper, ETP copper, copper alloys,brass, bronze, carbides, tungsten, tungsten carbide, silicon carbide,tungsten heavy alloys, aluminum, aluminum alloys, iron, polymers,polymer matrixes, fiber-reinforced polymers, carbon composite materials,and ceramics.
 9. The handgun cartridge of claim 1, wherein the axiallyextending tear guides are at least one of skives, folds, and slits. 10.The handgun cartridge of claim 1, wherein the jacket, the forward coremember and rearward core member are configured for releasing the forwardcore member and retaining the rearward core member upon impact.
 11. Ahandgun cartridge comprising a cartridge casing with a mouth and aninterior, propellant in the interior of the cartridge casing, and abullet secured in the mouth of the cartridge casing, the cartridge andbullet have a central axis, the bullet having an overall length and amaximum diameter, the ratio of the overall length to the maximumdiameter is equal to or less than about 2:1, the bullet comprising: ajacket member comprising copper and having a rearward wall with agenerally circular shape and a circumferential wall extending forwardlyfrom the rearward wall, the circumferential wall having a forwardmargin; a rearward lead core member disposed inside the jacket, therearward lead core member having a cylindrical exterior surface engagingan inside surface of the circumferential wall, a forward facing surface,and a rearward facing surface, the rearward facing surface of therearward core member being seated against a forward facing surface ofthe rearward wall of the jacket; and a forward core member disposedinside the jacket forward of the rearward core member, the forward coremember having star shaped separation planes defining a plurality offorward core segments; wherein the jacket has a plurality of axiallyextending separation structures extending rearwardly from the forwardmargin toward the rearward core member, whereby when the bullet strikesa target the jacket may petal outwardly, releasing the forward coresegments in a circular array of fragments while retaining the rearwardcore member.
 12. The handgun cartridge of claim 11, the plurality offorward core segments define a bullet tip with an axially extendingrecess at said tip.
 13. The handgun cartridge of claim 11 wherein theforward core member is comprised of lead.
 14. A cartridge comprising acartridge casing with a mouth and an interior, propellant in theinterior of the cartridge casing, and a bullet secured in the mouth ofthe cartridge casing, the cartridge and bullet have a central axis, thebullet having a forward tip and a length, the bullet comprising ahomogeneous material, the bullet having a rearward base portion and aforward ogive portion, the forward ogive portion extending at least 40%of the length of the bullet, the forward ogive portion having aplurality of axially extending cuts defining a plurality of ogivesegments that are circumferentially spaced around the ogive portion, therearward base portion not having any cuts, each axial cut of the forwardogive portion, when viewed axially looking toward the forward tip of thebullet are one of arcuately shaped and V-shaped, the axially extendingcuts extending an axial length at least 30% of the length of the bullet,wherein at each cut an inward face of the respective ogive segmentconfronts an outwardly directed face of a central pillar portion of theogive portion, the central pillar portion extending from the baseportion and including the forward tip of the bullet, wherein upon impactwith a target, the ogive segments are configured to break off of thebullet and the pillar portion is configured to remain intact with thebase portion.
 15. The cartridge of claim 14 wherein the inward face ofthe respective ogive segment is separated from the respective outwardlydirected face of the central pillar for the entire length of the cut.16. The cartridge of claim 15 wherein the inward face of each respectiveogive segment is separated from the respective outwardly directed faceof the central pillar by webbing extending the entire axial length ofeach respective cut.
 17. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein the bullethas a maximum radius and each cut extends inwardly toward the centralaxis more than 20% of the maximum radius and less than 90% of themaximum radius.
 18. The cartridge of claim 14 wherein the bullet has athree ogive segments and the pillar portion extends axially forward pastthe three ogive segments.
 19. The cartridge of claim 14 wherein thebullet is injection molded.
 20. The cartridge of claim 14 wherein whenthe bullet hits a fluidic target, the ogive segments fragment in anarray and the base portion with the central pillar portion tumbles.